Doctoral Dissertation Research: Exploring Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Plea Bargaining Decisions

职务名称：博士论文研究：摘要：大约95%的刑事定罪是通过认罪，被告承认有罪，放弃他的宪法权利，以换取减少处罚陪审团审判。虽然最高法院已经裁定认罪协议本身并不具有强制性，但这个项目将通过确定可能阻碍被告的因素来测试认罪协议制度是否具有强制性？有能力做出客观的判决。使用实验方法，该项目将研究是否审讯策略，如那些旨在提供错误信息的嫌疑人，影响认罪决定;以及，该项目将研究焦虑和内疚对被告的认罪决定的影响。该项目将包括两项实验研究。第一项研究将采用在线参与者来研究个人如何使用假设的场景来做出认罪决定，其中被告有罪或无罪，以及审讯策略各不相同。第二项研究将雇用本科生，他们将被置于涉及真实的后果的情况下，并在学生的提问技巧被操纵的情况下，以确定他们选择认罪协议的可能性。该项目将有助于研究机构的审讯技术对辩诉交易过程的影响，以及在何种情况下刑事被告放弃他们的审判权，赞成辩诉交易。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Title: Doctoral Dissertation Research: Exploring Psychological Mechanism Underlying Plea Bargaining Decisions Abstract: Approximately 95% of criminal convictions are resolved through guilty pleas, in which a defendant admits guilt and waives his constitutional right to a jury trial in exchange for a reduced punishment. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that plea deals are not inherently coercive, this project will test whether the plea-bargaining system is coercive by identifying factors that might hinder defendants? ability to make objective plea decisions. Using an experimental approach, the project will examine whether interrogation tactics, such as those that are designed to provide suspects with misinformation, influence plea decisions; as well, the project will examine the effect of anxiety and guilt on defendant's plea decisions. This project will consist of two experimental studies. The first study will employ online participants to examine how individuals make plea decisions using hypothetical scenarios in which the guilt or innocence of the defendant, as well as the interrogation tactics, are varied. The second study will employ undergraduate students who will be placed in situations involving real consequences, and where questioning techniques of the students are manipulated, to determine their likelihood of choosing plea deals. This project will contribute to the body of research on the influence of interrogation techniques on the plea-bargaining process and the circumstances under which criminal defendants waive their right to a trial in favor of a plea deal.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.